Cardioprotective effect of glutathione in isoproterenol - induced myocardial necrosis in albino rats

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effect of oral administration of reduced glutathione [GSH] in the isoproterenol [ISO]-induced cardiac lesions in rats; an animal model for myocardial infarction in man. Eighteen adult male albino rats were randomly allocated into 3 groups; each of 6 rats. Rats of control group were subcutaneously injected daily with 2 ml normal saline on days 14 and 15. Rats of ISO group were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol hydrochloride [Lab. Renaudin, France] with a daily dose of 85 mg/kg body weight [b.wt.] on days 14 and 15. Rats of ISO/GSH group received orally GSH with a daily dose of 500 mg/kg. b.wt. for fifteen days. In addition, animals of ISO/GSH group were injected with ISO with the same regimen as mentioned in ISO group. On day 16, all animals were sacrificed and the hearts were excised and processed for histological and immunocytochemical microscopic examinations. The results of the present study confirmed the ISO-induced myocardial lesions including cardiomyocyte necrosis accompanied by mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltration, interstitial edema as well as mild increase of collagen fibers. Administration of reduced glutathione with and before ISO injections markedly prevented almost all of these changes. These findings proved that oral administration of reduced glutathione exerts a strong cardioprotective effect in ISO-induced cardiac damage in rats